Viola plant named &#39;sunviolamari&#39;

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a new and distinct variety of  Viola cornuta , named ‘Sunviolamari’. This new variety has a spreading growth habit with long prostrate stems. This Viola plant has many branches, and a great profusion of blooms with the entire plant remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time. It displays dense green foliage, medium-sized violet-blue flowers having some graduation of color intensity on the long peduncles. The flowers have a faint and sweet scent. The plant exhibits good resistance to rain, cold, disease and pests.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Viola cornuta/Viola Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. Sunviolamari

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Violacornuta named ‘Sunviolamari’ that originated from the crossing a Violahybrid variety named ‘0V-37-1’ as the female parent and a variety named‘0V-72A’ as the male parent.

In April 2000, crossing of ‘0V-37-1’ as the female parent and ‘0V-72A’as the pollen parent was conducted at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga, Japan. In May2000, some seeds were obtained from that crossing. In August 2000, theseeds were sown and 20 seedlings were obtained. Three of the seedlingswere selected in view of their spreading growth habit, and medium-sizedflowers having a violet-blue petal color. Those seedlings werepropagated by the use of cuttings and were grown in pots, and then aplant trial was carried out beginning in October 2001, at Yokaichi-shi,Shiga, Japan. The botanical characteristics of the plants were thenexamined, using the similar varieties, ‘Violetto Nive’ and ‘AlpineSummer’, for comparison. As a result, one seedling was selected and itwas concluded that this Viola plant is distinguishable from any othervariety, whose existence is known to us, and is uniform and stable inits characteristics. The new variety of Viola plant was named‘Sunviolamari’.

The female parent ‘0V-37-1’ (not patented in the U.S.) is a strain fromour breeding lines grown at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga, Japan, having aspreading growth habit with prostrate stems. The flower size is almostthe same as the ‘Sunviolamari’ variety, and the petals display a whitecolor.

The pollen parent ‘0V-72A’ (not patented in the U.S.) is a strain of ourbreeding lines grown at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga, Japan, having a spreadinggrowth habit with prostrate stems. It has smaller-sized flowers than thenew ‘Sunviolamari’ variety, and the petals have a light blue color.

In the following description, the color information is in accordancewith The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

This new variety is unlike any Viola cornuta commercially available asevidenced by the following unique combinations of characteristics.

1. Spreading growth habit having long prostrate stems and many branches.

2. A great profusion of blooms with the entire plant remaining in bloomfor a considerable period of time.

3. Single, medium-sized violet-blue flowers having some gradation ofcolor intensity that are borne on the long peduncles.

The new variety ‘Sunviolamari’ differs from the similar variety‘Violetto Nive’ (not patented in the U.S.) in the following respects.

1. The leaf of ‘Sunviolamari’ is larger than that of ‘Violet Nive’.

2. The peduncle length of ‘Sunviolamari’ is longer than that of‘Violetto Nive’.

3. The flower of ‘Sunviolamari’ is larger than that of ‘Violetto Nive’.

4. The flowers of ‘Sunviolamari’ and ‘Violetto Nive’ differ in petalcolor. ‘Sunviolamari’ has violet-blue flowers having gradation of colorintensity. Those of ‘Violetto Nive’ are white.

5. The flowering time of ‘Sunviolamari’ is earlier than that of‘Violetto Nive’.

The new variety ‘Sunviolamari’ differs from the similar variety ‘AlpineSummer’ (not patented in the U.S.) in the following respects.

1. The leaves of ‘Sunviolamari’ are larger than those of ‘AlpineSummer’.

2. The peduncle length of ‘Sunviolamari’ is longer than that of ‘AlpineSummer’.

3. The flowers of ‘Sunviolamari’ are larger than those of ‘AlpineSummer’.

4. The flowers of ‘Sunviolamari’ and ‘Alpine Summer’ differ in petalcolor. ‘Sunviolamari’ displays violet-blue flowers having some gradationof color intensity. Those of ‘Alpine Summer’ are bi-colored, the upperpetal is violet, and the lateral and lower petals are yellow with darkpurple veins.

5. The flowering time of ‘Sunviolamari’ is earlier than that of ‘AlpineSummer’.

The new variety of Viola plant ‘Sunviolamari’ was asexually reproducedby the use of cuttings at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga, Japan, and thehomogeneity and stability thereof were confirmed.

The instant plant retains its distinctive characteristics and reproducestrue to type in successive generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the new cultivar. The plants had been reproduced bythe use of cuttings and were photographed during May 2002 while growingoutdoors in 24 cm pots at an age of approximately 7 months atYokaichi-shi, Shiga, Japan.

FIG. 1 illustrates an entire flowering plant of the new variety whilegrowing in a pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close view of the blossoms of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The botanical characteristics of the new and distinct variety of Violacornuta named ‘Sunviolamari’ are set forth hereafter. The plants wereobserved during May 2002 at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga, Japan, at an age ofapproximately 7 months.

-   Plant:    -   -   Stemmed or stemless.—Stemmed.        -   Growth habit.—Spreading.        -   Height.—Approximately 8 cm.        -   Spreading area.—Approximately 52 cm.-   Stem:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 62 cm.        -   Color.—R.H.S.144B (Yellow-Green group).        -   Branches.—Many.        -   Pubescence.—Present.        -   Internode length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.-   Leaf:    -   -   Phyllotaxis.—Alternate.        -   Overall shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Base shape.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Length.—Approximately 4.5 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 3.0 cm.        -   Color of upper surface.—R.H.S.137A (Green group).        -   Color of under surface.—R.H.S.137C (Green group).        -   Leaf texture.—Matte and smooth.        -   Venation.—Reticulate venation, not apparent except center            venation.        -   Petiole length.—Approximately 3.5 cm.        -   Petiole diameter.—Approximately 0.8 mm.        -   Petiole color.—R.H.S. 144C (Yellow-Green group).        -   Stipule.—Approximately 2.5 cm in length, 2.5 cm in width.            Pinnately parted. Shape is narrowly ovate. Color of upper            surface is R.H.S.137A (Green group). Color of under surface            is R.H.S.137C (Green group).-   Flower:    -   -   Inflorescence.—Flower solitary, axillary.        -   Flower form.—Single, 5 petals, 2 upper petals, 2 lateral            petals, and a spurred lower petal.        -   Longitudinal diameter.—Approximately 6.0 cm.        -   Horizontal diameter.—Approximately 5.5 cm.        -   Flower depth.—Approximately 0.9 cm.        -   Petal margin.—Entire, weakly ruffled.        -   Flower color when opening .—Primarily violet-blue with some            gradation of color intensity. Upper petal: R.H.S. 90D            (Violet-Blue group). Lateral petal: R.H.S. 92D (Violet-Blue            group) with darker stripes of R.H.S. 83A (Violet group) and            pubescence near the throat, together with R.H.S. 155C (White            group). Lower petal: R.H.S. 92D (Violet-Blue group) with            darker stripes of R.H.S. 83A (Violet group) and R.H.S. 155C            (White group) at the eye.        -   Flower color when fully open.—Upper petal: R.H.S. 90D            (Violet-Blue group). Lateral petal: R.H.S. 90D (Violet-Blue            group) with darker stripes of R.H.S. 83A (Violet group) and            pubescence near the throat together with R.H.S. 155C (White            group). Lower petal: R.H.S. 92A (Violet-Blue group) with            darker stripes of R.H.S. 83A (Violet group) and R.H.S. 155C            (White group) at the eye.        -   Petal size.—(Length×width) Upper petal: Approximately 3.4            cm×2.9 cm. Lateral petal: Approximately 2.0 cm×1.3 cm. Lower            petal: Approximately 3.0 cm×2.0 cm.        -   Petal shape.—Upper petal: Ovate. Lateral petal: Ovate. Lower            petal: Cordate, spurred.        -   Eye color.—R.H.S.17A (Yellow-orange group) on the lower            petal.        -   Eye size.—Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Width: Approximately            4.0 mm.        -   Spur length.—Approximately 8.0 mm.        -   Spur diameter.—Approximately 2.3 mm.        -   Spur color.—R.H.S.94B (Violet-blue group).        -   Sepal.—5 sepals, unequal, approximately 0.6 cm-1.6 cm,            R.H.S. 144A (Yellow-Green group) in coloration on both            surfaces, and possess some short appendages.        -   Number of flowers.—November to March: Approximately 10            flowers per plant. March to June: Approximately 40-50            flowers per plant.        -   Peduncle length.—Approximately 14 cm.        -   Peduncle thickness.—Approximately 1.3 mm.        -   Peduncle color.—R.H.S.137C (Green group).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen.—Five stamens joined around the ovary. Two lower            stamens commonly are spurred.        -   Stamen length.—Approximately 4.0 mm.        -   Anther color.—R.H.S. 11D (Yellow group). Tip: R.H.S. 170B            (Greyed-Orange group).        -   Pollen color.—R.H.S. 11D (Yellow group).        -   Pistil length.—Approximately 6.0 mm.        -   Stigma shape.—Ellipsoidal.        -   Stigma length.—Approximately 1.5 mm.        -   Stigma color.—R.H.S. 154B (Yellow-Green group).        -   Style length.—Approximately 1.0 mm.        -   Style color.—R.H.S. 154C (Yellow-Green group).        -   Ovary color.—R.H.S. 144D (Yellow-Green group).-   Seeds:    -   -   Seed.—Some seed development has been observed.        -   Seeds color.—R.H.S. 165A (Greyed-Orange group).        -   Size.—Approximately 2.0 mm in length, and approximately 1.0            mm in width.-   Physical characteristics:    -   -   Blooming period.—Early November to June in Japan, except            Hokkaido. A bloom commonly lasts 5-7 days on the plant.        -   Fragrance.—Faint.        -   Rain tolerance.—Strong. This variety has survived            temperatures of at least as low as −7° C. The plant grows            well at temperatures up to 25° C. The lower and upper            temperatures for plant survival have not been evaluated in            detail. No serious damage by white flies, aphids, and fungal            and bacterial diseases has been observed.

This new variety of Viola comuta plant ‘Sunviolamari’ is most suitablefor potting, and growing in hanging baskets and flower beds.

1. A new and distinct variety of Viola cornuta plant named‘Sunviolamari’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.